CD Reviews

Untroubled hour of pleasure from a troubled man...

William E. Adams | Midland, Texas USA | 05/27/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Chet recorded these sessions in either 1964 or '65 (the CD booklet contradicts itself) after a stay of several years in Europe. Those years saw him in big trouble with drugs, but somehow still maturing as a trumpeter. On this disc, however, he plays flugelhorn, a larger, richer sounding instrument that has attracted a bunch of other good jazzmen over the decades. In August of whichever year turns out to be correct, Chet and his four talented sidemen laid down more than 30 tracks in three days. Those eventually became five separate vinyl LP releases on the Prestige label. Two of those LP's are put together in this offering: "Smokin' With the Chet Baker Quintet" and "Groovin' With the Chet Baker Quintet." This is mostly mid-tempo stuff, totally pleasant. There are only two well-known songs, "Fine and Dandy" and "Have You Met Miss Jones?" but the eight other tunes are just as good. Chet, of course, carries the bulk of the soloing, but George Coleman on tenor sax, Kirk Lightsey at the piano, Herman Wright on bass and Roy Brooks at the drums each have fine moments as well. If you are a Baker fan, you'll like this a lot. If you are new to him, well, you will too. He doesn't sing on this disc, which to me is a shame, because I like his laconic lyricizing. Other good Baker CD's are "Chet is Back" and "Chet Baker Sings" and "Chet Baker and Strings" and the hard-to-find "Walkman Jazz" compilation. His drug habit led to disgrace and death, but the guy gave good music to the world for well over two decades. If you want to learn what mid-20th century jazz was all about, he's one of the essential guys...not among the first 10 or 15 artists you should hear, but I'd argue that he could rightfully hold a place in the top 25."

A must have for MANY reasons ! ! !

Tony NYC | Brooklyn, NY USA | 06/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is comprised of the following: Cuts 1-6 were originally released as "Smokin' with the Chet Baker Quintet", and cuts 7-10 were released as "Groovin' with the Chet Baker Quintet. Recorded in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on August 23-25, 1965 respectively by the recording genius Rudy Van Gelder, so you know the sound quality is GREAT. Even though is wasn't Remasted by Van Gelder's other half, Phil DeLancie, Joe Tarantino did a good job on the Remastering. Chet plays Flugelhorn on all the cuts. Yes, of course he is great, but wait until you hear George Coleman on Tenor Sax, he will BLOW YOU AWAY. He is utterly amazing on this CD. His sound, his playing, everything. Then, the GREAT, PHENOMENAL Kirk Lightsey on Piano. There is so much to love about this CD. It is a MASTERPIECE in every respect. Herman Wright on Bass, and Roy Brooks on Drums do a great job a well. This CD has it ALL right. The players, the songs, the order they are in on the CD, and great recording quality, and on and on and on. I wouldn't leave home without this one in the car."

Chet at his best

Pascal Stellato | 05/30/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am a big Chet Baker fan. I got this CD a little over a year ago and only started listening to it recently. This is a very good Chet recording. He sounds very good and the flugle horn is very mellow. His soloing is excellent."